Gaming
KRAFTON India unveils BGMI esports roadmap with two Rs 1 crore events
Mumbai to host BGMI International Cup as H2 calendar features two major tournaments
MUMBAI: The battle is moving beyond the screen, and this time the biggest winner could be Indian esports itself. KRAFTON India has unveiled its esports roadmap for the second half of 2026, announcing two marquee Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) tournaments with a combined prize pool of Rs 2 crore, including an international competition that will bring top teams from across Asia to Mumbai.
The company has introduced the BGMI International Cup (BMIC) and the BGMI Showdown (BMSD), with each tournament carrying a prize pool of Rs 1 crore.
The headline event, the BGMI International Cup, will culminate in its Grand Finals from 30 October to 1 November at the Dome, SVP Indoor Stadium in Mumbai. The tournament will feature 16 teams, comprising six from India, five from South Korea and five from Japan, setting the stage for one of the biggest cross-border BGMI competitions hosted in the country.
Ahead of the international clash, the BGMI Showdown will spotlight domestic talent through an invite-only competition featuring 48 Indian teams. Participants will be selected based on performances across the KIE Leaderboard, Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS) and Battlegrounds Mobile Pro Series (BMPS).
The tournament begins on 22 September and will conclude with its LAN Grand Finals from 16 to 18 October, offering another Rs 1 crore prize pool.
The competition will unfold across multiple stages, including Promotion and Relegation, Survival Rounds, Semi Finals and a Last Chance stage before the finalists battle it out on LAN.
Announcing the calendar, KRAFTON India associate director for esports Karan Pathak, said the company aims to raise the standard of competition with every season.
“Every season should feel bigger than the last not just in scale, but in the quality of competition it delivers. That’s what we’ve set out to achieve with this year’s H2 calendar,” he said.
Pathak added that the BGMI International Cup will bring together some of Asia’s strongest teams, while the BGMI Showdown is designed to reward India’s most consistent performers, creating high-profile match-ups and giving players more opportunities to compete at the highest level.
With Rs 2 crore in prize money, international participation and back-to-back LAN events, KRAFTON India’s latest calendar reflects the growing maturity of the country’s esports ecosystem. As competitive gaming continues to attract larger audiences and stronger commercial backing, the second half of 2026 promises to be one of BGMI’s most competitive seasons yet.
